The Legend of the Seven

Fear in the water

Theoden couldn't help but smile at Celaena's carefree nature and the softness about her as she stood with her hand open for the little fairy to stand in. He found himself lost in thought as she turned to him smiling before noticing the look on his face, blushing, and turning back around. Theoden shook his head as if to expell the thoughts from his mind before saying to the group "It's getting late, we should head deeper into the forest and make camp." the others nodded and began cleaning up their temporary camp. Together the five elves moved deeper into Lily Grove, as the moons reached their apex the forest began to glow. Shades of green, blue, red, purple, and white made it seem as if it were midday. Soon the five reached a small clearing with a large lake, looking around Theoden said to the others "Here is good, I'll set up the fire." with that he walked off. Celaena and Shael paired up to put together beds for everyone, leaving ever serious Arcaena with the carefree, outgoing Wyn. Raising an eyebrow Arcaena said "I'm going to prepare dinner." before turning to walk away, Wyn excitedly said "Oooooh food!" and followed behind Arcaena.

Theoden soon returned with wood to build a fire, quickly getting it lit the other gathered around, Arcaena put a pot of vegetables on the fire and pulled a maple bar from her bag, splitting it into five equal pieces. Giving one to each of her companions, "This is all I have, other than the soup." she said gesturing to the fire. Theoden and Wyn's green eyes met each others' with the same thought, "Hunting it is then!" Wyn exclaimed. Shael and Celaena giggled at his excitement, Arcaena raised an eyebrow letting out a small sigh she said "Yes, well that's tomorrow's problem, for tonight we have plenty." she began dishing out the soup.

finishing their dinner the young elves began preparing for bed, that was until Shael heard water crashing loudly in the lake "Oh this can't be good." Shael sighed. Everyone's attention turned to the water with the next loud crash, "What is it?" Celaena asked. Catching a glimpse of bright blue scales Arcaena grabbed her short sword and said "I think I have an idea." just then the hydra showed itself. Three scaled blue heads screeched into the air then faced the fice frightened young elves, sharp serpent like teeth snapping in three different directions. Theoden just avoided being bitten by one of the heads while swinging at another with his long sword. All five began backing away from the lake, "What do we do?" Wyn asked his older brother. Theoden looked from his brother to the girls, then to the hydra, raising himself up and gripping his long sword tighter, "We fight." he said with a heavy sigh. Celaena looked from Theoden to her twin, "Arcaena what do you think?" Arcaena raised an eyebrow as usual, and said "I agree, we fight, we have little choice really." Celaena nodded and pulled her dagger. The five prepared themselves for battle.

Moving more as a unit this time, Theoden and Arcaena moved in first side by side, followed closely by Celaena and Shael, with Wyn bringing up the back with his bow. As two heads went for the leaders Wyn shot one in its glowing blue eye sending it screeching into the sky, while the other head went for Arcaena, swinging her golden blade she nearly took the head clean off. Hearing screaming she swung around, her long blonde curls almost blocking her vision, she saw her twin sister on the ground with the third head over her. Panic and rage grew inside Arcaena, her purple eyes began to glow as her emotions grew. throwing her hand out, what looked like purple flames shot out engulfing the entire hydra, sending it wailing into the air before collapsing to the ground.

The morning was clear and bright when Arcaena woke "Wha-What happened?" she stuttered. "You saved my life." Celaena said almost as matter of factly as her twin usually is. Both girls giggled drawing the attention of the others, they all ran over in excitement "You're finally awake!" Shael said. "We were so worried!" exclaimed Wyn. Theoden in his brooding, serious manner stood a little further back from the others "That was the most powerful elvish magic I've ever seen." he said a hint of worry in his voice. Arcaena raised an eyebrow as she woke more and began remembering the night before "I barely remember what happened, I remember hearing Celaena screaming, I remember seeing her fall," she looked to her sister, touching her face. "I'm fine!" Celaena reassured her, Arcaena continued "I remember the rage and fear, but not much else." she finished matter of factly, as usual. Theoden began to speak, but Celaena shot him a look and he shut his mouth. "When I fell, you raised your hand and... well, purple flames shot out, it killed the hydra. Theoden says it was elf magic." she explained. Arcaena got to her feet "That must mean the ritual worked, good." she said brushing herself off.

Collecting themselves and their gear the five gathered at the edge of the clearing in Lily Grove, "Where do we go from here?" asked Wyn. Theoden and Arcaena looked at each other, each of the five knowing they were the leaders, "Together then." Theoden nodded "Together." Arcaena agreed. "The capital, the queen needs to know what happened in Asisari, and we need the help." suggested Theoden. Arcaena nodded "We may lead, but it's not just us here. I will add that I do agree, what does everyone else think?" she added. "I agree." said Wyn, "So do I." Celaena said, Shael nodded along. Arcaena looked to Theoden "It's agreed then." she said.

Together the five moved into the forest, Theoden and Celaena in the front, Wyn and Shael in the middle, with Arcaena bringing up the back. Theoden watched as Celaena touched each leaf and flower she passed admiring every single one in a unique way. A smile grew on his face watching her admire the beauty of the forest, he bent down and picked a red flower, gently he tapped her on the shoulder, when she turned to him he gently brushed her hair behind her ear and placed the small flower in her hair. Wyn and Shael passed them, and Shael spoke for the first time "Do you know how far we have to go to get to Naellin?" she asked shyly, Wyn looked at her with a mix of shock and excitement. Shael looked away shyly, Wyn collected himself and said "It's a very great distance from here, we must travel all the way through the forest, over Mount Oseran where the dwarfs and dragons live, and across the Emerald Sea." Shael looked at him in bewilderment. She quietly asked "How are we going to do all of that?" Wyn smiled at her "By sticking together." he said. Shael smiled at him shyly, the sun was at its midday peak and Wyn's grumbling stomach signaled lunch time. Wyn called to the rest of the group "Let's make temporary camp and find some food!" his excitement couldn't be hidden.

The group walked on a short distance coming to a field of beautiful flowers, though this forest was called Lily Grove it was very vast, and of course contained more than lillies. Wild roses of yellow, white, orange, pink, and red spread as far as the eye could see "Well definitely no hydras here!" Wyn joked before leaping into the flowers. All three girls giggled, Theoden shook his head with a smile. The five began setting up a small camp in the middle of the field. The brothers prepared themselves to go hunting, before they left Celaena grabbed Theoden's hand "Please be safe," she kissed his cheek "and remember plant these in the exact spot you make the kill, and say the words." she then whispered in his ear for a moment, then placed the seeds in his hand. "You must not take from the forest without giving back, or the forest will take from you." the others echoed the sacred words.